Method for formation and storage of ice



Feb, 12 1924. 'H. G. LANE METHOD FOR FORMATION AND STORAGE OF ICE Filed March 21, 192.2 :esmas-sheet` 1 gnr/uenoz HDF a1-LD ELL-ana' atroz mmf@ Feb. i2 1924s H. G. LANE METHOD FOR FORMATION AND STORAGE OF ICE Filed March 21, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Hcnr'a-LCIEIIL il. in:

atented FebD l2, 1924.

'ran 'STATES HORATIO, G. LANE, 0F WEITEHALL, NEW YORK.

METHOD FOR FORMATION AND STORAGE 0F ICE.

.Application led March-21, 1922'. Serial No. 545,511.

To all whom t 'may concer/n:

Be it known that I, HonA'rro G. LANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Whitehall, in the county of Washington and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods for Formation and Storage of Ice, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved method of forming ice for storage.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved method for forming ice in relatively large uantities, either in a house directly adapte for storage of the same, or at a convenient location, thus doing away with the expensive and cumbersome method of ice collecting incident to the salvaging of ice, from ponds, rivers, and streams, where it is iirst necessary to cut the ice, haul the same, and finally store the same.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved means for forming ice in large masses in an atmosphere of freezing temperature.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved method for the formation of huge masses of ice, for storage purposes, this ice being preferably so formed that the same can be conveniently disassembled andtaken out of storage for use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of inexpensive and simple apparatus for the formation of relatively great quantities of ice.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved method of ice formation, whereby water of a desired purity may be taken from a spring or other source, for the formation of ice in great quantities.

Other =objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

`Figure 1 is a cross sectional View of the apparatus used in connection with the formation of ice under the improved method.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken through the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 and showing the manner in which a layer of ice is formed therein.`

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing the manner in 'which the apparatus is regulated with respect to the layer of ice as illustrated in Fi ure 2,

formed therein, and showing the apparatus in position for the formation of an additional layer of ice.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 show the improved apparatus as illustrated in Figure 3, additionally showing successive steps `in preparing the layer of ice for the superposmg of an additional layer of ice.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view, showing the manner in which a second layer of ice is disposed upon the layer of ice first formed within the apparatus.

Figure- 8 is alhorizontal cross sectional view, taken on a plane intermediate the layers of ice, showing the manner in which an upper layer is supported upon and spaced from a lower layer of ice.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thev preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates an apparatus for the formation of ice, including a plurality of corner posts or standards 11 of any desired height, consistent with the height to which the ice is to be formed. Side walls 12 and 13, and end walls 14 and l5 may be provided,

formed of planks or any approved material,

which are appropriately alixed to the corner posts or standards 11, so that an enclosure 15 is provided, preferably of rectangular formation, to define the dimensions to which the ice is to be formed. It is preferred that the planks or materials forming the side and end walls be all of the same height; one of the walls, such as the side wall 13 having an opening or slot 17 therein, produring the ormation of this layer of ice, as

by wet snow or other means 17a. The ice so formed, is of a predetermined thickness as determined by the .heightI of the walls of the apparatus 10 so that a base layer 20 is formed, having a relatively even up r surface 21. This ayer of ice 20, may,` o course,

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21 of the base layer 20, the seal be of a thickness so that the top surface 21 lies below the upper marginal edges 22 of the apparatus 10.

Since the ice to be formed by this improved method will sometimes reach the height of many feet, it is desired that the layer 20 be of such thickness that the apparatus 10 may be conveniently handled by a minimum number of persons. The layer of ice 20, is likewise of such thickness that the same may be conveniently handled when cut into blocks. The next step in the formation of the ice forstorage purposes, i that of raising the side and end walls, 12 to l5 inclusive, upwardly upon the supporting standards 11, as is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, so that the lower marginal edges of said walls are raised otf of the ground surface and lie just below the top surface 21 of the already formed layer of ice 20. 1n this osition, the wallsl of the apparatus 10 provide an enclosure for the further formation of an additional layer of ice, superposed upon the basic layer 20.

It will be desirable that the superposed layers of ice be separated from each other, so that the facing surfaces of said layers do not coalesce. To this end, after the walls of the apparatus l() have been raised, as is illustrated in Figure 3, a very thin layer of water, in depth a quarter or half inch is flooded upon the top surface 21 of the base layer 20, and while the water is in its fluidstate, the spacing members 23 are disposed upon the surface 21 of the layer 20, so that as this relatively shallow body of water freezes upon the upper surface 21, the spacing members 23 will be bound insecure position upon the layer' 20, in the position illustrated in Figure 4. Of course, the members 23 extend upwardly above the shallow body of water which binds them to the layer 20. Thesemembers 23 are preferably-pieces of ice and of the same height. After the spaeing members 23 has been bonded to the base layer of ice 20 as above described, the enclosure defined by the walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 is loodedwith water, to a heifrht 'ust above the iers 23, and as illustrate, in igure 5, of t e drawings. It is to be observed that this body of water 25, cannot escape through the o eninfr 17 in the apparatus wall- 13, nor t rougi any marginal cracks or crevices about the top of 'the layer of ice 20, due to the fact that wet snow or other material 26 has been placed as to seal the openin and apertures, as is clearly illustrated 1n Figure 3 of the drawings. The body of wat/er 25, of course, freezes from the top, and when the same is frozen to a point just below the top or upper surfaces of the spacing piers or members 23, and before the lsame is entirely frozen to the upper surface rovided by the wet snow 26 is removed om the layer opening 17 in the form 10, so that the residue water may be drained from the space 28 intermediate the top or auxiliary layer of ice 29, which rests u n the piers 23, and the base layer 20. f course, due to the fact that this auxiliary layer 29 is frozen to a depth below the upper parts of the piers 23, it can readily be understood th: `the same has established a bond with the piers 23. Likewise, the body of water 25 will freeze inwardly from the marginal edges thereof, about the wallsof the apparatus 10, to provide marginal portions 29, frozen between the layer 20 and the auxiliary layer 29, and in this respect cooperating with the supportin piers 23, which are now frozen solidly to ie layers 20 and 29, and substantially as is illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings.`

the same has formed to a depth below the tops of the supporting members 23, and by insertion of a persons linger or a rod, the depth of the water in the space may be gaged, for determining that the body 25 is not frozen solid. As the water flows from the space 28 outwardly through the drain opening 17 provided in the wall 13, it is obvious that the vent aperture or opening 31, ser-ves a useful purpose, in that air may be supplied therethrough to the space 28 to permit -outflow of the water therefrom. The water which kexits from the opening 17 need not be wasted, since in many instances the water of which the ice is formed will be spring water, and of unusual purity. To prevent the wasting of this 1Water from the space 28, a suitable pumping apparatus may be provided adjacent the main opening 17 for collecting the same. After the water has all been drained from the air space 28 intermediate the base layer 20 and the auxiliary layer 29 spaced therefrom, a plug 35 of wet snow or similar'material, may be disposed in the drain opening 17, in order that the air space 28. intermediate the base 20 andthe auxiliary layer 29, may be entirely sealed and closed to prevent access of any water thereto. After this operation, water may be sprayed or poured upon the top of the auxiliary layer 29, so that a layer 37 is formed directly over the base layer 20, it, of course, being understood that this layer 37 includes the auxiliary layer 29 and the water disposed thereover which au ments therewith. The layer 37 is preferab y of the same thickness as the base layer 20.

The next operation will be that of again raisingV the walls of the apparatus substantially as in the manner above described, for attachment upwardly of the standards or supports 11, and the provision of air spaces intermediate successive layers is formed in the above described manner. By this method, any number of the additional layers 37 may be provided upon the bottom layer to provide a huge mass of ice, of

' many feet in height.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a method of forming huge bodies of ice has been perfected, by the superpositioning of a plurality of layers, with air spaces intermediate adjacent layers. By this arrangement, no impure spacing arrangements intermediate the layers is provided, such as paper and other separating expedients, and which ordinarily would lessen the' purity of the resulting body of ice. In fact, nothing is interposed in the resulting body of ice, except the pure water ingredient, of-which the same is composed.

The ice may be formed in any approved storage house or frame work provided therefor, and insulated in any of the well known ways.

While the formation of ice after the method herein described is preferably carried on during the winter months, and in an atmosphere of freezing temperature, yet ice may be formed after the process herein described in an atmosphere the temperature of which is lowered to the freezing point and below the same by artificial means.

From the foregoing, it is to be observed that a huge and compact body of. ice may be formed by a single person following the above method. It is at once obvious that Such a method of ice formation is more compact and less expensive than the method of storing` ice in use at the present time. lVhen desiring to use ice from the huge body an operator may start with the top layer of ice and extract pieces therefrom, due to the manner in which the layers are spaced from each other. In this manner, it can be seen that the successive layers of ice may be consumed in order, and without unnecessary mutilation thereof.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts of the. improved apparatus, may be made in order to conform to the method set forth in this specification and defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. That method .of forming ice in an atmosphere of freezing temperature, which consists in forming a layer of ice, placing supports upon the top of said layer, flowing water over said supports and allowing the top surface of said water to freeze to form a second layer of ice until the upper parts of the supports are frozen in said second layer, and draining the remaining water just upwardly of Said first mentioned layer from intermediate said layers to provide an air space..

2. That method of forming ice in an atmosphere of freezing temperature, which consists in the forming of a base layer of ice, placing supports upon the top of said layer, flowing water on top of said layer to a level just above the tops of said supports, permitting the top part of the body of water above said base layer to freeze to a point below the top of said supports and whereby said supports are partially encased in an auxiliary layer of ice formed at the top of said body of water, draining the residue water from between said auxiliary layer and the base layer, and augmenting the thicknessI of said auxiliary layer of ice by flowing watei' thereon and permitting it to freeze.

3. That method of forming ice in an atmosphere of freezing temperature, which consists in the formation of a layer of ice of determined thickness, flowing a thin film of water upon said layer of ice, depositing spaced supporting members upon said thin film of water and permitting the same to be bonded with said layer of ice by freezing of said film of water, providing a second layer of ice upon said first mentioned layer of ice by flooding a body of water upwardly thereon and permitting the same to freeze to a depth just above and spaced from the top of said first layer of ice, sufficiently to encase the upper portions of said supporting members, and draining the residue-of water from intermediate said layers of ice to provide a space therebetween.

4. That method of forming ice in an atmosphere of freezing tem rature, which consists in the formation o a layer of ice, flooding the surface thereof to provide s. film of water thereon, disposing supporting members upon said surface so that the film of water when frozen will bind said supporting members to said layer, again flooding the surface of said layer with a body of water to cover said supporting members, permitting said body of water to freeze to a depth just below the tops of said supporting members to a point just above the top of said first mentioned layer of ice to rovide an auxiliary layer of ice supported by said supporting members, permitting the water intermediate said first mentioned layer of ice and said auxiliary layer to drain to pr'ovide an air space intermediate said first mentioned layer of ice and said auxilia layer of ice, and augmenting the auxiliary layerv of ic e to provide a second layer of ice of a required thickness. 4

HORATIO G. LANE.

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